____________________________________________________

“What children can do with the assistance of others might be in some sense even more indicative of their mental development than what they can do alone.”____________________________________________________

“Knowledge, then, is a system of transformations that become progressively adequate.”____________________________________________________???: “Through concentration, I can raise and lower my cholesterol at will.”Pam: “Why would you want to raise your cholesterol?”???: “So I can lower it.” ____________________________________________________

Behaviorism: Constructs

In order to help new 6th grade students with the transition to middle school, the teachers meet the students the first few days of school and help them find their way around. Natasha’s mother drops her off the first day, and Natasha waves to her mother uneasily as she walks towards the school. Mrs. Rodriquez greets her at the entrance of the main building, smiles at Natasha reassuringly. Seeing the way Mrs. Rodriguez behaves, Natasha feels much better.

Each day, Mrs. Rodriquez greets Natasha with the same smile and reassuring manner. Now, Natasha jumps out of the car and feels quite relaxed as she enter Mrs. Rodriquez’s classroom.

Praise

Removing HW

Verbal Desist

Time-out

Schedule Example

Fixed-ratio(behavior)

Variable-ratio(behavior)

Fixed-interval(time)

Variable-interval(time)

The algebra teacher says, “As soon as you’ve correctly done two problems in a row, you may start on your homework, so you’ll be finished by the end of the period.”

A student raises her hand to answer questions, andsometimes she’s called on, and sometimes sheisn’t.

Students are given a quiz every Friday, and theyreceive their score every Monday.

Students are given unannounced quizzes, and sometimes the quizzes are returned the next day, and at other times they are returned a day or two later.

Application: Behaviorism Worksheet

Behaviorism: Effective application (II)

•Ineffective forms of punishment

•Physical punishment

•Embarrassment

•Class work

•Other Considerations…

•Generalization

•Discrimination

•Extinction

Behaviorism: Other concepts Extinction

When a previously reinforced behavior decreases in frequency and eventually ceases (ignoring behavior)

Spontaneous Recovery When an extinguished behavior reappears without

having been reinforced Generalization

When an individual learns to make a particular response to a particular stimulus and then makes the same or a similar response in a different situation

Discrimination When an individual learns to notice the unique aspects

of seemingly similar situations and thus responds differently

Behaviorism: Application

Applied behavior analysis (ABA): Systematically applying the principles of behaviorism to change student behavior (aka behavior modification; Baldwin & Baldwin, 2001)

Steps:

(1) Identify target behaviors

(2) Establish a baseline for target behaviors

(3) Choose reinforces and punishers

(4) Measure changes in target behaviors

(5) Gradually reduce the frequency of reinforcers as behavior improves

Behaviorism: Issues

Can behaviorism effectively serve as a guide for instruction in all domains?

Is all learning a product of reinforcement? External reinforcement has negative

correlation with intrinsically motivating activities